Learn English: The 2 ways to pronounce 'THE'

Did you know that the little word 'the' can be pronounced in two different ways? But when do you use each pronunciation? In this lesson, I will explain a simple rule that will tell you how to pronounce it in all cases. Watch this pronunciation lesson and erase your mistakes!

Next, watch this lesson on the difference between 'A' and 'AN':

Take the quiz on this lesson at:

TRANSCRIPT

Hello. I'm Gill from engVid, and today's lesson is about the little word "the", and how to say it, how to pronounce it. You might think: "What? I know how to pronounce that word", but there are two different ways of pronouncing it, and this lesson is designed to show you how to work out which way to say it. Okay.

So, the simple rule is: Before a consonant you say "thuh", but before a vowel sound you say "thee". So it's either "thuh" or "thee". So, let me just go through some examples to show you how that works. So, before a consonant sound: "thuh". "The banana", "the dog", but then we get our first exception, which is confusing because this word begins with an E which is a vowel letter, but the way it's pronounced, it has a "ya" at the beginning: "Ya. European. European", so we say: "Thuh European", okay? So that's a slight confusion to be aware of. Continuing on: "The flowers", "the house", "the man", "the people". Another exception again because this word begins with a U, which is a vowel letter, but the actual sound when you say this sound is a "ya", "university", "university". It's not: "university", it's "university". So: "thUH university", okay? And finally: "The woman, the woman". So that's "the" before a consonant sound.

So, let's have a look at the other column. Before the vowel sound we say "thee", so: "The apple", "the elephant", "the ice cream", "the orange", "the umbrella". You can see here "umbrella" also begins with a U, just like "university", but it's not pronounced: "yumbrella", it's pronounced: "umbrella", so: "thee umbrella, the umbrella". Okay. And finally, here's another funny one, it begins with an H, so you might think: "Well, that's a consonant", but it is actually a vowel sound because we don't pronounce the H in this word. You may know the word "heir", which we had in another lesson about using "a" and "an". The heir is usually, well, male, and the heiress, female; but often the word "heir" is used for female as well nowadays for reasons of equality. So, but: "the heiress", "e", so it's an "e", "heiress", so that's a vowel sound, so: "the heiress". Okay? So that's another one to remember, along with the "ya" sound here. So, it's purely the way you say it which decides whether it's "thuh" or "thee". Okay? So now we'll move on to a second screen, and we'll do some sentences for you to work out how to pronounce each time the word "the" or "the" appears, so...

Okay, so what I should have said at the end of the last section was the word "heir" and "heiress", I didn't explain what they meant. So, if you hadn't seen the other lesson you wouldn't... You might not know that, so "an heir" or "an heiress" is someone who inherits something, often money or property, something like that. So, okay.

Right, so here is the test for you of how to pronounce the word "t-h-e": "thuh" or "thee", and as you can see, we have some sentences here. And every time the word appears I've underlined it in red just to help you to see it. So, first sentence: "The ferry crossed the Irish Sea." So, how would you pronounce the word there? Okay. So: "thuh" goes before a consonant sound, so "f" is a consonant, so: "Thuh fairy. The fairy crossed", and what about this one? "I" is a vowel sound, so it's "thee Irish Sea, the Irish Sea". So: "The fairy crossed the Irish Sea." Okay?

Next one: "The right way is the only way." Okay, so how would you pronounce those two? So, "r" is a consonant, so: "Thuh right way. The right way is", "only", that begins with an "o", which is a vowel, "only". So: "thee only way. The right way is the only way." Okay?

Next one, we have three examples in this sentence, so: "The answer is at the back of the book." So, what would you do there? "The answer, the back, the book", so "answer" begins with "a", which is a vowel, so it's: "Thee answer. The answer is at". "Back" and "book" begin with "b", which is a consonant, so: "Thuh back of thuh book." Okay.

Next one: "The fire hasn't reached the upper floor". "Upper" means at the top of the building, up at the top. Okay, so: "fire" begins with an "f", so that's a consonant, so: "thuh fire. The fire hasn't reached", "upper" begins with "u" which is a vowel sound, so it's: "thee upper floor. The fire hasn't reached the upper floor." Okay. Right.

Next one: "The girl felt at home in the empty house." So if you feel at home, you feel comfortable, you like your surroundings. Okay. So: "girl" begins with "g" which is a consonant, so: "thuh girl.

[bethanysimpson]

I can't believe I am a native speaker and I never knew this Gill! Thank you Gill xxx

[raonidantas]

Gill is the real Queen of United Kingdom! ❤️💂🏻‍♂️👑

[albertosful]

Thank you Gill for this lesson, after so many years learning English it's only now I realized the difference.🤔 I have been using "the" sound only .

[internetslothh]

This is so interesting. English is my first language and I’ve never even thought about how i pronounce ‘the’ differently depending on the the first letter of the word following it

[rozembergbarbosa]

I had never realized the difference. Living and learning!
Thank you so much 😘

[absolutelynot]

I'm a native English speaker but I still watch these videos sometimes. They're just good to watch. 😭

[rogercooper]

I am astounded that this lesson has become increasingly important for native English speakers in the UK. It can only mean that glottal stops *between* words have become fashionable. Prospective drama students beware!

[rajenranv]

Attention to little things goes a long way in refining our communication in English. Really grateful for enriching us with the minute details of the article THE. Ma'am Gill is Able, Capable, and Loveable. Thanking profusely.

[AstronauticxGV]

Thanks Gill for the (thuh) lesson and the (THEE) answers explained in such a clear way. Made me go back in time but came out with a smile of delight :)

[darkladypantera]

I really love you Gill! Love the way you explain things! I'm taking my FCE on December and I'm still a bit confused about some words and so on. I find your lessons really thought-provoking, since I have a curious mind your videos are music to my ears! You're lovely! Thanks ever so much!!!!

[engvidAlex]

Nice one, Gill! You got to this one before I did! I'll scratch it off my list of lessons. Well done!

[camilojoseacevedo]

My dear Lady...you have no idea how much I have learned with your method..My deepest respect..greetings from the Capital city of San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

[hassanechetouane]

All i learnt today with you dear teacher is never to stop studies.This lesson brought more light in my english, i felt really.My pronunciation of "the" was wrong before.Once more thinks.

[christelchomontowski]

Hi Gill, thanks so much for your lessons. I'm fond of your accent, it is so British? Your explanations are clear and well structured, you're an excellent teacher!

[ndr_]

We all love you, Gill!
You are the grandma Ive always wished for!
Please never die!

[MikeB]

I watch your lessons so I think that I'll speak English very well. Thanks a lot.

[sachdefamily]

The thing I love the most is the fact that you are a speech writer and I am not sure what to say about this topic

[junerofeta]

Thank you! I was listening back on a presentation i recorded, and randomly wondered why I was pronouncing "the" in two different ways.

[bdtqbqc]

I was searching for "the" sound in "the only" . Now I found it. Thank you

[dorshushan]

English is my second language, yet I've never even thought about the differences in the pronunciations of "the." I usually pronounce "the" by how I remember articulating a particular word or just in agreement to ease of pronunciation, i.e., "whatever rolls on the tongue."